Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Marco.
Hi Aaron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into bodywork began with a deeply personal need. Growing up, I struggled with a constellation of health challenges that became particularly acute in college: AD/HD, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and persistent brain fog. I tried conventional approaches – talk therapy and medication – but found limited relief. Driven to find a solution, I explored alternative therapies, eventually being guided to Rolfing — or Structural Integration as Dr. Ida P. Rolf named it — by a neuropsychologist I was working with.
I remember telling him I didn’t want to end up with the health struggles I saw limiting some of my grandparents. I’d watched one set thrive into their 80s, gardening and staying active, while the other faced significant health hurdles. I felt like I was on a trajectory closer to the latter, already needing to take medical leave from college twice. The neuropsychologist simply said, “You need to try Rolfing.”
And it was profoundly transformative. For the first time in years, I experienced sustained periods of relief – days, even weeks, where the weight of depression lifted. This experience ignited a passion to understand and share this potential for healing. I didn’t stop with Rolfing, however. My search for comprehensive solutions led me to study a wide range of bodywork therapies, alongside the principles of functional medicine.
Over time, this broadened scope led me to develop a dual practice, offering both hands-on bodywork therapy and functional medicine consultations. But it was meeting my partner and her son that truly reshaped my work. Her son has a severe and profound medical condition requiring 24/7 care, and his needs dramatically deepened my commitment to finding the most effective, cutting-edge health solutions.
This isn’t just a profession for me; it’s a lifelong pursuit. I’ve been on a journey to understand and improve health – first for myself, beginning at age 10, then through formal study and now for over a decade and a half, most profoundly, for my partner’s son — who I consider as my own — and my clients. This personal experience fuels my dedication to providing deeply personalized and effective care, drawing on a wide range of expertise to address the root causes of health challenges. Today, I practice in Chapel Hill, helping clients unlock their own potential for improved health, ease, and a more vibrant life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It absolutely hasn’t been a smooth road. The most significant challenge, without a doubt, has been navigating life as a caregiver for my partner’s son, who has a severe and profound medical condition requiring 24/7 attention. This has been incredibly demanding, and has deeply shaped my commitment to finding innovative solutions for health challenges.
Even before becoming a full-time caregiver, I was drawn to working with clients facing complex, often “unsolvable” issues. I’ve always been fascinated by what *doesn’t* work – the patterns that keep people stuck – because that’s where the greatest potential for impact lies. My clients often came to me after trying many other therapies with limited success, and I felt a strong dedication to helping them find relief.
Early on, I noticed recurring patterns. Clients would often leave a session feeling fantastic, only to revert to their previous state by the next appointment – what I affectionately call “the rebound.” Others would hit a “plateau,” where progress stalled despite consistent effort. These challenges drove me to seek out more advanced approaches.
That journey led me to Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation (ABR), which changed my understanding of the body’s structural limitations. This deepened my understanding of the crucial role of healthy fascia – the connective tissue that supports and shapes us – and learned techniques to restore its natural volume and function. Simultaneously, I immersed myself in the principles of functional medicine, recognizing the powerful impact of nutrition, lifestyle, and eliminating environmental toxins.
Integrating these approaches has been transformative. For example, identifying one client’s sensitivity to gluten and removing that from her diet allowed the inflammation in her body to resolve so that the bodywork therapy results lasted longer and completely changed her chronic pain and discomfort. I find that drawing my clients’ attention to these often-overlooked factors – the way their body is structured, the impact of their diet, and the hidden toxins in their environment – is incredibly empowering. It empowers them to be part of their healing journey and achieve lasting results. These ongoing challenges, both personal and professional, have fueled my dedication to providing truly holistic and effective care. This has been a phenomenal journey and through my own personal lived experience I’ve been able to reach and resonance with my clients at a deeper level because I live what many of them go through. This has led me to develop an approach that takes me client from point A to point B effectively and with ease. I takes my client from their pain point to their desired outcome. My clients experience transformation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about INF Institute?
I provide a transformational process combining expertly integrated bodywork therapy – rooted in my signature INF Manual session and INF Functional Medicine consultations. I identify, isolate and address the interconnectedness of physical structure and nervous system function with contextual individual internal and external contributors: nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
I specialize in working with individuals struggling with chronic pain, fatigue, and complex health issues that haven’t responded to traditional treatments. These clients often feel unheard, frustrated after years of searching for answers, and are craving a path forward. I help individuals like these move from debilitating pain, dysfunction and and limitations to a life of ease, vitality and fulfillment – a life they can love and enjoy once again.
What sets INF Institute apart is this synergistic integration. I’ve blended years of training in advanced techniques – including Rolf Structural Integration (where I hold advanced certifications), Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Rossiter, Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation, and more – into a signature unified INF Approach & Method that empowers lasting change. Sessions can include both passive and active movement, and support traditional medical, chiropractic, and osteopathic care. I provide my clients with frameworks, systems, and strategies tailored to their unique needs, guiding them every step of the way.
I’m most proud of creating a safe and empowering space where clients feel truly heard and supported, and experience genuine transformation. Many of my clients have been with me for years, returning not because something is “broken” again, but for regular “tune-ups” – realignments as their bodies evolve and their lives change. It’s a testament to the lasting impact of the work we do together. I want our readers to know that INF Institute isn’t just about fixing problems, it’s about equipping you with a sustainable and integrated system to take back control of your health and wellbeing, allowing you to function and perform at your highest potential – without the overwhelm and anxiety that comes with debilitating dysfunction and pain.
To get started, new clients are welcome to book either a 60-minute INF Manual session or a 60-minute INF Functional Medicine consultation. You can learn more about my approach and book a consultation at infinstitute.com. Located in Chapel Hill, The Institute for Integral Neuro-Fasciology, INF Institute, is a strategic and integrated holistic health practice dedicated to helping clients unlock their body’s innate healing potential.
What are your plans for the future?
I have some exciting plans for the future of INF Institute! I’m deeply committed to expanding access to these transformative therapies, and that starts with developing a series of online courses designed to empower individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, and integrate lasting change into their daily lives.
My vision is to provide clients with the tools to maintain their progress at their own pace and turn self-care into a sustainable lifestyle. I’m particularly excited about launching a self-care course focused on simple, effective techniques people can easily integrate into their routines. I also plan courses for partners and families—teaching them how to support each other through gentle, hands-on techniques—and a practical nutrition course that cuts through the complexity and offers clear, actionable steps for nourishing the body. Importantly, these courses will be built around a supportive community, fostering connection and shared learning.
Beyond these initial offerings, I envision developing advanced courses for aspiring practitioners, sharing the knowledge and expertise I’ve cultivated over the years. Currently, I’m expanding my own knowledge base through studies in Chinese medicine, vibrational science, and Taoist yoga. This exploration is fueling a growing fascination with “energy medicine” – and its potential to unlock deeper levels of healing. It’s fascinating to consider how physicists describe the universe. Everyone is familiar with Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc², demonstrating the equivalence of energy and mass. Yet, our focus often remains almost entirely on the material (matter) side of that equation, while over 99% of the universe is actually comprised of energy! By shifting our understanding to the energetic side, I believe we can achieve more profound and lasting results, freeing ourselves from unnecessary pain and suffering. I’m eager to translate these insights into practical applications and share them through my future online courses, empowering individuals to tap into their own inherent healing capacity.
Adding to this exciting development, my partner and co-founder is resuming client work after dedicating nearly two decades to full-time caregiving of her medically fragile and complex son with disabilities. Her unique background – ranging from her work at The United Nations, CNN and teaching courses in strategy – brings a powerful perspective on reclaiming agency and turning personal and professional life challenges into pivotal opportunities. Her work focuses on taking back control and designing a life on your terms, which she offers through life strategy teaching and coaching. We’re thrilled to be collaborating again, as we originally envisioned when we co-founded the Institute. This will allow individuals to work with both of us in a truly holistic and transformative way, addressing both physical *and* emotional well-being. We’re looking forward to expanding our online offerings to include her expertise as well, creating an even more comprehensive resource for lasting health and fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://infinstitute.com
